Generous Justice

I am reading Tim Keller’s new book; “Generous Justice” and what a wonderful, yet challenging read. This book is convicting while at the same time very encouraging. Keller explains that while we have been made just by the grace of God; we should out of loving gratitude help to provide justice in the world. Keller early on in the book says; “there is a direct relationship between a person’s grasp and experience of God’s grace, and his or her heart for justice and the poor.”

This book is serving its purpose, it is causing me to examine things, to question, to think, to study and hopefully spurring me to change. I am only half complete in reading this fine work, yet already I am writing about it. I am learning.

Keller does a great job helping us to understand what justice really is from a biblical perspective and explains that there are several sides to a proper understanding. Keller points us to Micah 6:8 which says;

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Keller points out that from this verse there is action; we are to act justly to others, but there is an attitude component as well as we must love mercy. Keller says then to humbly walk with God we must do justice out of merciful love. So, once we have the attitude perspective we can then move on to what exactly is doing justice?

In Hebrew there are two words used for justice the first is mishpat and it means providing care for the vulnerable no matter what that care might be; many places in the bible mishpat is used to describe taking up the care and cause of widows, orphans, immigrants and the poor. But wait; there is another side to justice. Keller points out that there is a second Hebrew word that can be translated as being just or being righteous; tzadeqah. This word refers to having a life of right relationships.

Keller points out that Bible scholar Alec Motyer defines this as “being right with God and therefore committed to putting right all other relationships in life…when most modern people see the word righteousness in the Bible, they tend to think of it in terms of private morality…But in the Bible tzadeqah refers to day-to-day living in which a person conducts all relationships in family and society with fairness, generosity and equity.”

So for now that is the challenge for me; to examine my relationships; all my relationships to look for fairness, generosity and equity. Again, very convicting yet somehow so encouraging. There is so much more to this book…I dare you to read it.

Grace and Peace!

Shine Like Stars

Our home fellowship group is studying the book of Philippians and what a wonderful study it is. Philippians is one of the shortest, but most joyful and instructive books. James Montgomery Boice describes Philippians and reminds us that even though Paul was facing possible execution for his faith; “no book in the Bible is so filled with joy as Philippians. Yet Philippians is not just for people who are feeling discouraged – or even joyful. It is a rich book with a great wealth of themes. There are only 104 verses in Philippians. But in that short scope most of the major doctrines of the Christian faith are covered, and there are many profound statements of Christian love, hope, aspiration, joy and confidence.”

Our group is currently studying Chapter 2 and gaining great insight. There are many great truths here, but three verses have just stuck with me. You have to stop and really reflect on this passage. Look at every word, think, pray, read it again. The verses are 14 through 16;

14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe 16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

What an amazing passage. Great instruction for those set apart; great instruction indeed, but so difficult to achieve. Look at verse 14; Do everything without complaining or arguing. How many of us can achieve that? I heard a pastor giving a sermon on this passage and he shared an illustration that Rabbis use in their teaching.

It is the story of two young men on the exodus with Moses and as the Red Sea is parted the two young men are trudging their way across and notice that their sandals are becoming caked with mud and begin to complain; all they can see is the mud and the mire. Their heads are down when all they have to do is look up and see the wonder of God’s grace, mercy, and love. All they have to do is look up and see the miraculous walls of water allowing their exodus.

So as we run and labor through this crooked and depraved generation, may we all look up! As we deal with life, families, work, neighbors instead of seeing the mud and mire; let’s look up and notice the great Christian hope! The hope provided by the sacrifice of Christ. Every breath we breathe, every blessing we receive, every step we take is a gift from God.

I am reminded of Psalm 40;

1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.


With such a firm place to stand may we all “Shine like Stars”!

Grace and Peace!